Anna Margaret Nelson Russell, age 86, formerly of Clifton Forge, Springfield and Staunton, Virginia, died Thursday, October 10, 2013 at Bay Lake Assisted Living Home in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

She was born October 16, 1926 in Clifton Forge, Virginia, the daughter of the late John H. Nelson and Anna V. Smith Nelson.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Ronald L. Russell in 1995; and her sister, Ellen V. Harmon Healy and her brother, Lawrence E. Nelson.

She is survived by her sister, Mary Elizabeth Powell-McDaniel of Clifton Forge, cousin, Joan Larrick Rule of Staunton, and her four sons, Bruce E. Russell of Glen Allen, VA, Bryan L. Russell of Warrenton, David F. Russell of Virginia Beach and Mark N. Russell of Lee Hall, VA; eight grandchildren Ned, Amanda, Bryan Jr., Scott, John, Billy, Matt and Mary Margaret and generations of nieces and nephews she truly treasured.

Margaret travelled to the suburbs of Washington, DC after graduating from Clifton Forge High School. She met and married Ronald, raising their four boys in Northern Virginia, after a 3 year posting in Germany during the mid 1950's.

An avid gardener, bridge aficionado, and Sunday school teacher, her passion was politics. She served in leadership roles for local voting precincts, as well as Presidential, Congressional and local reelection committees. One could truly say "she was the committee!" A funeral service will be held on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. in the chapel of Nicely Funeral Home, Clifton Forge, with Reverend W. Pembroke Hall officiating. Interment will follow in Crown Hill Cemetery, Clifton Forge.

The family received friends on Sunday afternoon from 12:30 p.m. until time of service at Nicely Funeral Home. The family suggests memorial tributes take the form of contributions to Cowpasture River Preservation Association, P. O. Box 215, Millboro, VA 24460 or at www.cowpastureriver.org/donate.